If rickets is not treated, what will be the impact?

Written by Mo Ming Hua
Pediatrics
Updated on November 09, 2024
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Rickets, if untreated, mainly involves changes in skeletal deformities and motor function in children. Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency in vitamin D, which is essential for promoting the absorption of calcium. A deficiency in vitamin D leads to reduced calcium absorption. Lower calcium absorption results in a calcium deficiency in the body, which in turn causes changes in the bones. In the early stages of vitamin D deficiency, the main symptoms are increased neural excitability, which may manifest as startle reactions, irritability, restlessness, and excessive sweating. During the active phase, symptoms of increased nervous system excitability become more pronounced, mainly presenting as skeletal deformities. What aspects do these skeletal deformities affect? One is the softening of the skull, pigeon chest, funnel chest, and changes resembling wristbands and anklets. If the condition worsens further, it can present as X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, and spinal deformities. Thus, if rickets progresses, it can lead to skeletal deformities and impairments in motor functions, among other issues.

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Written by Mo Ming Hua
Pediatrics
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Does rickets affect development and intelligence?

Rickets is primarily caused by a deficiency in vitamin D and mainly affects normal growth and development, with very little to no impact on intelligence. In the early stages of rickets, symptoms mainly include irritability, restlessness, and excessive sweating at night. The body primarily exhibits symptoms such as sweating, night terrors, and irritability, with symptoms becoming significantly more pronounced. During this period, the main manifestations are skeletal deformities, which vary in different age groups. For example, there can be softening of the skull, as well as pectus excavatum, pectus carinatum, and X-shaped or O-shaped legs. In severe cases, spinal deformities may also occur.

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Written by Li Jiao Yan
Neonatology
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Early clinical manifestations of rickets

Early Symptoms of Rickets: Rickets is a chronic nutritional disease caused by a deficiency in Vitamin D, leading to disordered calcium and phosphorus metabolism and resulting in abnormal skeletal development. It primarily affects infants, especially those under six months old, with the highest occurrence in infants under three months. The general symptoms include heightened neural excitability, such as fussiness, easy irritability, sudden bouts of crying, or being so sensitive that they cry when touched. Other symptoms include excessive sweating and frequent head shaking, though these are not specific indicators of rickets. Diagnosis mainly relies on biochemical markers and Vitamin D levels, like decreased blood calcium and phosphorus levels, elevated parathyroid hormone levels, and reduced 25-hydroxy-D3. X-ray images of bones might appear normal.

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Written by Huang Kun Mei
Pediatrics
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Symptoms of rickets in infants and young children

The symptoms of rickets in infants and young children mainly include excessive sweating, night terrors, thinning hair at the back of the head, rib cage flaring, pigeon chest, bow legs, and knock knees, among others. If a child exhibits the above symptoms, it is necessary to promptly test for trace elements and check bone density to see if the child has symptoms of calcium deficiency. If so, it is crucial to supplement the child with vitamin D and calcium. In terms of diet, it is necessary to enhance the child's nutrition and increase outdoor activities. Ensure that the child engages in outdoor activities for more than two hours each day, particularly between 12 PM and 2 PM. Avoid exposing the child to sunlight during this time to prevent sunburn, especially to the child's eyes.

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Written by Tong Peng
Pediatrics
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Should I take vitamin D or D3 for rickets?

Rickets should be treated with D3, but strictly speaking, what we commonly refer to as vitamin D is D3, just phrased differently. Vitamin D3 helps promote the absorption of calcium by bones, preventing the occurrence of rickets symptoms. The main clinical manifestations of rickets appear in the deformation of bones, such as square skull, pigeon chest, flaring ribs, X-shaped legs, O-shaped legs, and other changes in bone status. The nervous system can show symptoms such as night sweats, nervous excitability, balding at the back of the head, poor sleep quality, and easiness to cry. For rickets, it is necessary to diagnose early, timely supplement with vitamin D to prevent symptoms from worsening, and also to get more sunlight and engage in outdoor activities, which helps the body synthesize vitamin D and absorb calcium.

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Written by Liu Li
Pediatrics
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Will rickets heal on its own if not treated?

Children with rickets only need timely supplementation of vitamin D or calcium, should be taken out to get more sunlight daily, and an increase in nutrition is sufficient; special treatment is not necessary. Furthermore, the main symptoms of rickets in children include night terrors, excessive sweating, and the balding of the pillow area. Rickets can also cause children to become irritable and cry frequently. In severe cases, it may lead to bone deformities. Parents can take their child to undergo a trace element test to identify the specific cause of the disease, and then promptly supplement the child with food or medicine to alleviate rickets.